Ironing creases was introduced in napoleonic times to kill lice. This was replaced by crab-fat, so infact creases are soon 19th century!

They should also introduce patent leather shoes and bin the bulling of shoes.

and the wearing of hats, serves no purpose unless part of PPE. I'd go further, but the "in my day" brigade may have multiple seizures.

I would also issue a two tone uniform, say black trousers and normal colour ( No1 or whatever number it is these days ) jackets, so that way you can change half of the uniform without having to bin it all.

The hat is required to wear a badge with the Sovereign’s Crown (in our case Her Majesty The Queen). When serving personnel salute an officer, they are acknowledging Her Majesty the Queen as Head of State and saluting the rank the officer holds (the Queen's commission) rather than the individual themselves. When an officer returns a salute, it is done so on behalf of the Queen.

So it most definitely serves a purpose unless you want that badge tattooed on your forehead or pinned on it - which might be a bit messy or painful…:}

I say old thing!
How am I to pass my Sunday late morning, sniffing the roast, drinking a pint, sharpening the kitchen knives and bulling all the shoes?

Thank you, Cpl Clott! Glad someone remembers what it’s all about.

Agreed, pointless wearing a hat these days, that can get in the bin.

The comments in this thread make me laugh as well.....

Your explanation just shows it serves no purpose, other than one you've imagined for it.

I know all that, I used to be a DI on IOT. A simple "Good morning Sir/Ma'am" serves the same purpose, acknowledges the commission and is courteous without being over the top. If we had been formed as an entirely new service from scratch, not from the RN and Army, there'd be none of this nonsense. We just inherited a load of their traditions, I still fail to see how performing 18th century battle drills in front of CHOM is relevant or traditional to a modern Air force.

OK, let’s stop all Parades, and marching, and just wander around like civvies … while being polite to the tracksuit wearing managers. Would save a lot of time and effort … and shoe cleaning. I wonder where that would end up?

Old timers would explode, currently serving would probably keep on with the job as they do now?

People might stay in rather than leave to be treated like an adult?

One the link about SHQ Honington, isn’t this just superb.

So civilianise everything that Service life is about? Hmm, a lot of that has happened already. I just wonder how warfighting discipline would stand up in that environment?

Anyway, not my war. Back to my armchair and brandy. Enjoy the future.

When was the last time you saw anyone marching round camp? It's not "Get some in" everyone just walks round like normal people. As for parades, why do we have to do it the Army way? Someone will be along in a minute saying drill is the foundation of discipline, it's not, doing what you're told is.

You could of course also simply add the badge to the uniform and bin the hat.

She could definitely give Section Office Harvey a run for her money ;)

Interesting article in The Times this evening about how a new Chief Constable has turned round the failing Greater Manchester Police by a “ back to basics” approach including smarter uniforms, reinstating a badge all can take pride in and an emphasis on standards of dress and appearance. Apparently it has resulted in better morale, more convictions, less crime and greater public support. Who knew!

It is a basic error to mix up fashion and uniforms. Fashion uniforms don't age well. Uniforms are non-fashion, they must fit to everybody, the small the fat, the non-models. Uniforms can still be made elegant, made to impress, made from good materials that are best for daily use, not from cheapo stinking plastic, and made to last.
Mostly cheap stuff is used and this gets hidden behind fancy fashion. Where I live all the mail people are dressed like olympic sprinters from Florida instead of something comfortable to work in all weather day in day out.
And who mounts flags like this?

Routine wearing of hats and saluting should be binned.

I do think the principles of drill and saluting should be kept for ceremonial purposes as I view that as part of our identity and unique character but there's no need for them to be part of everyday life for the principles to remain part of our culture.

Except that all uniforms are modelled on the fashion of their day. The basic RAF uniform dates back to the fashion of the 1920s, with some alterations and modifications over the years as fashions changed.

Not the whole truth.

During both World Wars [to date] it is clear that women's fashion [at least] followed military trends. The osmosis works in both directions, seemingly.

Aircrew leather jacket ?
 

My favorite subject and I wonder if Air Command might ask Aviation Leathercraft to design a new style of leather aircrew jacket lol

cheers

Or perhaps a universal optional purchase for all Officers? Nah, the Sky-Gods would never accept that! :cool:

Oh do sharpen up...

Sorry, Beags … after my time! I rather lost interest in RAF dress regs in 1993!

MPN11
 

Sometimes us pilots feel that maybe we just imagine that the ‘blunties’ don’t like us. I’m glad you’re here to remind us that even senior ‘blunties’ really do/did hold a deep seated jealousy or loathing of us.

As for the Leathercraft jacket you’re welcome to it. I always hated the design and certainly wouldn’t pay out of my own pocket to wear one. Even if I’d realised how much it could have wound up those with a chip on their shoulder.

BV

I thought you were looking at your demob suit Bob. :)

Nutty
 

Already wearing it!

BV

Oh, deep admiration I assure you. I never progressed beyond PPL, and failed Mil flying training at a very early stage. And as an RAF ATCO, I wouldn't have had a job without you! :ok:

I just prefer wearing Leather to Plastic or Polyester.

And so sensible that is, it gives you some protection against fire, unlike Polyester or Plastic.
This was brought home to me many years ago when I watched a VC10 mass slide evacuation test for some requirement or the other, one of the young Waafs involved was wearing some type of underwear which must have had a high man made material content or the like, and her knickers literally melted and welded themselves to the poor girls posterior as she went down the slide, I don't know what was worse for her, the "carpet burns" she endured, the pain, or the bunch of interested young airman standing around watching the medic at work on her bottom...

I also knew some poor b*stard who was refuelling his car and had a flash fire, he was wearing a teeshirt and the burns he got were quite bad. To this day I always slip a cotton jacket on in the petrol station and accept the funny looks I get, even if it is up in the high thirties C.
At least I know when the temps are high and the risk greatest, I have done something to protect myself from the chances of a flash fire.

Some of us were happily oblivious to them from the moment we left Halton...

I remember seeing the "Bum Freezer " black leather jackets coming in to unofficial RAF usage well over 30 years ago , A ground officer from a superb Recce Squadron ( :) ) turned up at one session I was at wearing the same. Grins all round of course, but underneath I felt that this reflected a good Flying/ Ground relationship regarding that Squadron's Officers at that time.

Let's march...

Saves walking.

RAF Regiment - Crye Uniform
 

Either the RAF Regiment is officially trialling the Crye uniform - as now issued to the Royal Marines - or OC 15 Sqn RAF Regiment is just trying to look "ally".

Back in May the new Force Commander said he was looking at getting it for us. I'm surprised it's arrived this quickly, probably be the same as the Marines, 10 sets to share between everyone for photo opportunities.

Now all he needs is to learn how to put his beret on correctly, badge over the eye isn’t it?, never understood the idea of walking around all camo’d up with a stable belt on either.

The silly thing is these days everyone is wearing the same stuff that you need coloured armbands in the likes of Ukraine to identify what side you are on.

It’s a special Rock Ape beret.

Not sure how long it’s been since you were in, but this is normal rig nowadays on base. Don’t worry, in combat, this changes.

Just put union jacks on USAF kit - it always looks cool. I remember being at Red Flag in '78 being totally embarrassed in my issue growbag when all the yanks looked like Tom Cruise. We've always been the scruffs of NATO!